I Hope You Dance
Lee Ann Womack
Story Time!
a few years back my cousin married a very lovely lady with a very sweet family, and i made an utter ass of myself at their wedding. the bride’s sister and brother got up to sing this song, dedicated to the memory of their dead, gay, brother who had burst his heart working out. they told the whole story, emphasizing his lust for life and how that was somehow embodied in his gayness and his working out. then they sang this saccharine song, and man, did they make a mess of it. neither of them are professional singers. it was a large wedding and the song was warbeled, in it’s entirety, with no musical accompanyment, as we were seated in the reception hall before dinner.
oh lord, did i snicker, then giggle, then laugh uncontrollably. my mother shot me dangerous looks from a near-by table. the eyes of my siblings and cousins widened and looked away from me, embarrassed for us all. i was helpless. i ended up with my head under the table, my hands over my mouth, tears in my eyes, clutched in the grips of a massive laugh attack. this song is fucking priceless.
4 months ago